Review nº 15

Name: Cristina Soledad Guzmán
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Date of publication: Sunday October 26 2008


Review nº 15: Article “ ‘Fear of pain’ causes big rise in caesareans”

Giving birth to her child is the most wonderful moment of every woman’s life. Some people argue that it is important to deliver the baby naturally instead of having a caesarean, but there are times when this procedure is necessary for medical reasons. The article “ ‘Fear of pain’ causes big rise in caesareans” published in The Guardian, deals with a British debate about the rise in caesareans operations.
Caesarean reates in many London hospitals are notably high. Some choose in advance that they will have the operation while others are given it in an emergency. There are people who regard how a woman gives birth as a barometer of her womanliness. Now one of Britain’s leading midwives has reignited the debate about caesarians. She claims that an increasing number of women under 40 are less prepared to undergo the physical trauma of childbirth than their predecesors. While any woman can request the procedure, there should be good clinical reasons or psychological reasons. Silverton, this midwife, believes caesareans have come too easy to obtain, especially the procedures that are planned in advance. While acknowledging that labour is ‘unbelievably painful’, Silverton pointed out that the pain is temporary and that she doubted the ‘medical reasons’ given by doctors for approving caesareans. She listed a series of dangers that this procedure has for the mathers, like ‘the risk of infection, the effect on subsequent fertility and the effect on their ability to look after a newborn baby when they are post-operarive’. Many experts agreed, as they argued about Silverston’s comments. They claimed that the safety of caesareans has improved significantly in the past 20 years. One doctor claimed that ‘what matters the most is that we care very badly for women in labour, which makes them frightened’. Dr Maggie Blott insisted: ‘There isn’t any evidence to support Silverston’s view’. Natural births and planned caesareans now involve the same risk that the mother will die.
In relation with this debate I agree with the opinions given by both positions. First, I think Silverton is right in saying: ‘A caesarean is a major abdominal surgery’ and I also agree with her claim that many women do not ‘realise that’. On the other hand I agree with the opinion of the doctors that ‘It’s very wrong to blame women for the caesarean rate being so high’, because this operation has to be previously analysed by doctors before its assignation. It is also true that ‘caesarean sections can be life-saving’ that is one of the main reasons for its existence and application. Long ago mothers died while delivering their children because this operation was unknown.
To sum up, the article presents a debate about the choice of giving birth a child naturally or having a caesarean section. Both procedures have their justifications and benefits and even bad consequences. But what cares is that a woman is not less or more woman for delivering her baby having a caesarean section or naturally. Quoting one mother’s opinion: ‘what’s important is that you’ve got a safe, healthy baby, not how you got it’.